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. . . and Baby Makes Two: A Novel
At thirty-seven, Jane Howe is pretty sure she has attained the perfect a well-paying job, fantastic friends, family close by (but not too close), and a Greenwich Village apartment that makes visitors drool with envy. But that’s before she sees the perfect child. There he sits in his stroller, angelic and beautiful, magnetic and serene– and he makes Jane question everything she has and everything she thought she wanted.
Suddenly all she can see are babies and pregnant woman everywhere. Were there always so many of them? And while there was once a man in her life–her one true love, Sam, gone from this world too soon–there is no man now. Jane must make a possibly become a bitter and childless old lady, letting her biological clock tick on ’till menopause, or tend the ache in her heart now, by becoming a single mother.
As Jane struggles to make the most important decision of her life, friends and family offer no shortage of opinions. There’s Ray, her “hubstitute” and gay best friend who would be jealous of any kid who got Jane as a mom; Sheila, her sister, who went from zero to sixty when she eloped with Raoul–who had two young twin sons– and has mixed feelings about being a new mommy; her strict, Catholic father who can’ t imagine what level of hell Jane would banish herself to if she becomes a single mother; and the women of Families with Children from China who are preparing to adopt orphan daughters–without a man in sight. Just as she thinks she’s made up her mind, Jane discovers one small wrench in her handsome, charming, funny Peter, who just happens to be (unhappily) married.
. . . And Baby Makes Two is a heartbreakingly honest, wonderfully addictive, and funny novel about love and loss, family and friendship. Judy Sheehan, co-creator of the smash hit Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, has perfectly captured the delights and dilemmas of the scariest job in the motherhood.
From the Hardcover edition.
Suddenly all she can see are babies and pregnant woman everywhere. Were there always so many of them? And while there was once a man in her life–her one true love, Sam, gone from this world too soon–there is no man now. Jane must make a possibly become a bitter and childless old lady, letting her biological clock tick on ’till menopause, or tend the ache in her heart now, by becoming a single mother.
As Jane struggles to make the most important decision of her life, friends and family offer no shortage of opinions. There’s Ray, her “hubstitute” and gay best friend who would be jealous of any kid who got Jane as a mom; Sheila, her sister, who went from zero to sixty when she eloped with Raoul–who had two young twin sons– and has mixed feelings about being a new mommy; her strict, Catholic father who can’ t imagine what level of hell Jane would banish herself to if she becomes a single mother; and the women of Families with Children from China who are preparing to adopt orphan daughters–without a man in sight. Just as she thinks she’s made up her mind, Jane discovers one small wrench in her handsome, charming, funny Peter, who just happens to be (unhappily) married.
. . . And Baby Makes Two is a heartbreakingly honest, wonderfully addictive, and funny novel about love and loss, family and friendship. Judy Sheehan, co-creator of the smash hit Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, has perfectly captured the delights and dilemmas of the scariest job in the motherhood.
From the Hardcover edition.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 11, 2020
Other than the "romance" this book was really fun to read. The relationship between Jane and Peter seemed unreal and unrelated to the story. But the author did a great job keeping me interested and conveying the thoughts and feelings if the main character.
March 16, 2010
Do you ever come across a book that perfectly suits the mood you're in at the moment, that has a voice which you can't get enough of, and that was only 50 cents on the library sell shelf?
That's what this book was for me. It's about a single woman, age 32, works on Wall Street, not dating, and suddenly her biological clock starts ticking big time. We follow her through the decision of whether or not she should have a baby-- there's options available for single women which she explores in a hilarious way, and she ends up deciding to adopt from China.
This story is the absolute opposite of my own life. Infertility never an issue, no Wall Street job, happily married for many years-- so it opened my eyes to things that I've never looked at, like what it's like to have a baby hunger that isn't being filled, and what's involved with adopting a baby from China.
But most of all, I loved Sheehan's voice and writing style. It's a combination of chick lit and serious women's fiction. I'm so glad I bought my copy. Don't know why the library was selling it-- it's a brilliant book, and if she wrote any other novels I'm going to get them, too.
That's what this book was for me. It's about a single woman, age 32, works on Wall Street, not dating, and suddenly her biological clock starts ticking big time. We follow her through the decision of whether or not she should have a baby-- there's options available for single women which she explores in a hilarious way, and she ends up deciding to adopt from China.
This story is the absolute opposite of my own life. Infertility never an issue, no Wall Street job, happily married for many years-- so it opened my eyes to things that I've never looked at, like what it's like to have a baby hunger that isn't being filled, and what's involved with adopting a baby from China.
But most of all, I loved Sheehan's voice and writing style. It's a combination of chick lit and serious women's fiction. I'm so glad I bought my copy. Don't know why the library was selling it-- it's a brilliant book, and if she wrote any other novels I'm going to get them, too.
January 5, 2016
Blah, blah, blah. I would have liked this more if it was entirely fiction, or felt like it. Unfortunately, it came off as slightly fictionalized version of the author's own experiences adopting from China as a single mom. Which was an interesting story, don't get me wrong, but I didn't want to read nonfiction. And the epilogue, where the author interviews one of the characters, was just plain weird.
The other thing that bugged me was the out-of-the-blue change in narrative style for Chapter 15. The whole book was narrated in the third person, but then suddenly switched to script-style dialogue followed by first-person journal entries. Huh???
One last point - I read the ebook (epub version in Overdrive) and there were a lot of formatting issues. You'd think that publishers could double check their work...
The other thing that bugged me was the out-of-the-blue change in narrative style for Chapter 15. The whole book was narrated in the third person, but then suddenly switched to script-style dialogue followed by first-person journal entries. Huh???
One last point - I read the ebook (epub version in Overdrive) and there were a lot of formatting issues. You'd think that publishers could double check their work...
September 1, 2016
More like 2.5 stars, but what the hey, I'm feeling generous. One of those books you read, you turn the pages, you're interested in finding out how things turn out ... but which never really engage the reader, or at any rate this reader. I was also a bit surprised that the paper book version of this only comes in at 336 pages. It felt a LOT longer, as in it dragged.
Not awful, but probably not one I can get behind to recommend all that enthusiastically.
Source: Minuteman Library, read on Kindle Touch.
Not awful, but probably not one I can get behind to recommend all that enthusiastically.
Source: Minuteman Library, read on Kindle Touch.
May 3, 2016
This is an interesting and well-researched book - the author categorically denies that it is a memoir but it could well be.
Jane, at 37, decides her biological clock is ticking and wants to become a mother. The novel describes her thought processes as she considers her options and also her decision and its consequences.
Jane's maniacal List making is a tad tiresome as is her on again off again relationship with Peter.
All in all quite a good read.
Jane, at 37, decides her biological clock is ticking and wants to become a mother. The novel describes her thought processes as she considers her options and also her decision and its consequences.
Jane's maniacal List making is a tad tiresome as is her on again off again relationship with Peter.
All in all quite a good read.
September 8, 2009
I loved this book!! It had some interesting and funny characters that really interacted well together. I really enjoyed Ray's character. It was such a fantastic and heartwarming story. I think a sequel would be awesome!
March 6, 2013
I loved this book. I can't imagine the twists and turns of a real to-be mother experience. Apparently, my mother adopting me was no easy task as opinions and new information can change one's decision. Overall, this book really gave me a taste of what my future might be like.
May 13, 2015
I actually ended up really liking this book. It read like the author had a bit of ADHD and came off choppy, but otherwise it is one of those books that you have to see it to the end to find out what is the out come. Easy to fall in love with the characters.
May 15, 2008
It was a very light reading book. Had me hooked in the beginning but about midway I really just wanted to finish it just because I don't like to just stop reading a book even if it's not very good.
June 4, 2008
annoying
September 19, 2010
This book was informative about the process of adopting a baby from China, as well as a cute story.
September 15, 2012
I liked the idea but not any of the main characters.
January 5, 2016
Interesting story of a single woman who adopts a baby girl in China, complete with all the challenges of family, job, etc.
March 18, 2008
Fun, fluffy read!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews